Okay, quick sum up of the year now that this year’s travel adventures are done.
Best New Experience of 2025 – Solo Travelling
Solo travelling is definitely trending on social media right now. And not without good reason. I loved my month away by myself, and made so many friends who inspired me and helped me find a more spontaneous travel version of myself. For me, Albania and Montenegro would be two of my most recommended places to start solo travelling. There’s decent bus infrastructure, amazing hostels, so many solo travellers and it’s still so much more budget friendly than places like Italy and Croatia while being close enough to the UK to give you some peace of mind if you need to go back.
I would definitely encourage you to take the leap and go solo travelling – just be fully aware that social media shows the highlights of solo travelling and (as with anything) you’ll get two sides to it. I loved my sociable hostels – going out for dinner with girls I’d just met, cliff jumping and hiring boats but there were also one or two hostels where I did feel the ‘solo’ of solo travelling. This isn’t to put anyone off, simply a reminder to be aware that there will be times on the journey where it isn’t living up to the hype that some travel influencers show. If you want to read more about solo travelling, check out my article here: Is Solo Travel Worth the Social Media Hype?
Best Hostel of 2025 – Pirate Backpackers, Ulcinj Montenegro
I think I genuinely recommend this hostel to everyone I meet. SO WORTH IT. Hostel Pirate instantly erased all my fears of solo travelling. I arrived on the first day, was welcomed by Koko, went to the beach with one of the girls before a nap, joined the drinking games in the garden and then went out. By morning, I had however many new friends, was pursuaded to come on the boat trip where we went cliff jumping, had ciders on the beach and then five of us went back to cook dinner together. I texted home at the end of that day saying that if I needed anything or felt homesick anywhere else in the Balkans I’d just come back to Pirates for a bit. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Best Activity of 2025 – Valbona-Theth Hike in Albania
Firstly – wow. Those three days in the Albanian Alps were some of the best days of the year. No phone service, friends from across the world, waterfalls and mountains. What more could you want. I am in the middle of doing an extensive write up of this trip, but if you’re in Albania this has to take priority on your list. It is my absolute top activity to do in Albania and definitely makes the top 3 things to do in the Balkans.
If you’re looking at doing the hike, the best hostel to do it with is Wanderers in Shkoder. You can leave your bags there, pay at the hostel and everything is then organised for you for the hiking trip. There are other options, but most of the people I met around the Balkans have all done it through Wanderers. Photo at the top of this article is from one of the waterfalls near Theth. Here, you can read all about the logistics, recommendations and itinerary for the Valbona-Theth Hike!
Favourite New Country of 2025 – Slovenia
Slovenia was, I have to admit, a little more expensive than I expected however it was STUNNING. Ljubljana and Lake Bled are definitely places to add to your list. Slovenia gave me a bit more of a chill section to my trip – swimming in the lake, looking at castles, lakeside runs, exploring Vingtar Gorge. Slovenia has so much to offer and is definitely an underrated destination. If you want a little bit cheaper and a bit more off the tourist path, head to Lake Bled over Lake Como.
